'Ash fallout' alert after Hawaii volcano erupts in 30,000-foot plume

Credit: Reuters India- Published on May 17, 2018

PAHOA, Hawaii (Reuters) - An explosive eruption sent ash spewing 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) into the air above Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on Thursday and residents of the Big Island were warned to shelter in place as the plume engulfed a wide area, authorities said.

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano exploded on May 17th, spewing a plume of ash 30,000 feet above the Big Island. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory first reported the explosive eruption at Kilauea’s summit. The steam-driven blast occurred almost two weeks after the volcano began to erupt. In the days before Kilauea started to boil over, more than 200 small earthquakes were reported in the surrounding. And volcanic activity has continued, ripping over a dozen fissures around Kilauea.